Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea 'happy' amid contract extension talks

BERN, Switzerland -- David De Gea says he is "really happy" at Manchester United amid speculation he could sign a new contract to extend his stay at Old Trafford, while hitting back at "stupid" critics who blasted his World Cup performances.

Spain's No.1 has a year left on his contract with the club also holding an option to extend it by another 12 months until 2020.

United would like De Gea to sign a new five-year deal. Speaking ahead of the Champions League opener against Young Boys in Switzerland on Wednesday night, the 27-year-old stopped short of saying he will definitely commit his future to the club but insisted he is happy where he is.

"I feel really loved at his club from the fans," De Gea told a news conference at Stade de Suisse on Tuesday.

"I am really happy to play for this club, one of best clubs in world, so for me it's really good to be part of this club."

De Gea was back to his best in the 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday making a stunning late save from Christian Kabasele to make sure of the points.

The goalkeeper was heavily criticised in Spain for his performances during the World Cup as the 2010 winners were dumped out in the round-of-16 by hosts Russia, prompting De Gea to fire back.

"Well, normally I never listen to the people who speak about me," he said.

"Normally I focus on my job and focus on trying to help my team and trying to improve every training session and try to be as a good as I can. I never listen to stupid things like this they say."

Meanwhile, United manager Jose Mourinho has said it is too early to talk about his side's Champions League chances and warned that every team is "at risk" of going out in the group stage.

United begin their campaign against Swiss champions Young Boys on Wednesday, six months after their exit to Sevilla last season.

"It is premature to be speaking about our chances when we didn't even play the first match," Mourinho told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I would focus on the first match, and after that on the group phase, one of the most difficult group phases, and we have two positions to qualify and our focus must be on that."

The United boss has told his players that reputation means nothing -- particularly after Atletico Madrid, finalists in 2014 and 2016, failed to progress from the group stage last season.

"By experience, when a team reaches the quarterfinals then even the teams that are not favourites, when you arrive in the quarterfinals you smell the distance is not very far and every team starts thinking about it, but is too early now," he said.

"We had examples last season of candidates not going through the group phase -- when Atletico Madrid is knocked out in the group phase, that is a very good example that everyone is at risk."

Mourinho confirmed that Marcus Rashford, serving a three-match domestic ban, would start, while Diogo Dalot, a summer signing from Porto, could also be in the lineup.

The match at the Stade de Suisse will be played on an artificial surface, but Mourinho said: "We are in Switzerland, the home of one of the best ever tennis players [Roger Federer], and I'm pretty sure that the big man sometimes is not happy to play on such a surface, but he has to play and has to win.

"He has a favourite surface, but he has to win on the surfaces he is not in love with. We have to do it."

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